Last Christmas posting and ordering dates
All the vital Christmas dates for post and shopping in 2010
When it comes to Christmas it can feel more like you’re running a military operation than planning a celebration.
With cards to write, presents to be carefully thought-out and bought, a mountain of festive food and goodies to plough through, not to mention a tree and decorations to put up, all in between endless parties, impromptu calls from well-wishers and the annual pilgrimage to visit long-lost relatives, it’s no wonder the festivities are a headache for so many people.
We’ve put together a diary of the essential dates you need to put in your diary, so you can make sure that you don’t get caught out.
Last posting dates
There’s no point writing endless messages of good cheer to everyone on your Christmas card list, only to miss the last posting date and have them arrive on 28 December. So, here’s a quick reminder of those all-important last posting dates:UK Standard parcels:
Wednesday 15 December
UK Second class post
Saturday 18 December
UK First class post
Tuesday 21 December
UK Parcelforce Next day delivery
Wednesday 22 December
UK Royal Mail Special Delivery
Thursday 23 December
USA, Canada and Eastern Europe:
Friday 10 December
Rest of Europe:
Monday 13 December
South & Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East,
Asia, Far East (including Japan), Eastern Europe, Australia and New Zealand:
Monday 6 December
Last ordering dates for Christmas delivery
Book ‘named day’ delivery slots well in advance, and be aware that you may find all ‘next day’ delivery slots fully booked if you leave it to the last minute.It’s best to double-check the retailer’s homepage for details of any last minute changes to delivery deadlines over the Christmas period, as they can change.
But if do find you've left it to the last minute, here are the latest ordering deadlines for the biggest gift shops and retailers:
18 December
Amazon: Free Super Saver delivery(midnight)19 December
Asda Direct: Small/medium items standard service20 December
Amazon: First class post (midnight)Hamleys: Free delivery over £40
M&S: Standard delivery (12 noon)
21 December
Buyagift: First class (3pm)Currys: standard delivery (1pm)
Debenhams: standard delivery (12 noon)
Ernest Jones: Standard delivery (2pm)
Fig Leaves: standard delivery (12 noon)
Firebox: standard delivery (12 noon)
Flying Flowers: standard delivery (2.30pm)
GAME: Standard delivery (12 noon)
Game Station: Standard delivery (12 noon)
John Lewis: Free standard delivery (3pm)
La Senza: Free delivery over £40 (2pm)
M&S hampers: Nominated day delivery (12 noon)
PC World: standard delivery (1pm)
Red Letter Days: standard delivery (12 noon)
22 December
Boots: Next day delivery (2.30pm)Fig Leaves: Express delivery (midnight)
House of Fraser: Next day delivery (1.30pm)
IWantOneofthose: all orders (end of day)
M&S: Gift cards (3pm)
Red Letter Days: Courier delivery (2pm)
Tesco Direct: last order date (midnight)
23 December
Ann Summers: Free delivery over £35 (4pm)Amazon: Express delivery (2pm)
Amazon: Prime service (3.30pm)
Asda Direct: Next day service (end of day)
GAME: Express delivery (12 noon)
iTunes: Gift cards (end of day)
La Senza: Next day delivery (12 noon)
Thorntons: Premium/next day delivery (4pm)
Prezzybox: Standard delivery (end of day)
Very: Standard delivery (8pm)
WHSmith: Gift cards (end of day)
24 December
Amazon: Evening delivery to selected postcodes in Birmingham and London (8.30am)25 December
Amazon: Gift certificate by emailBuyagift: Experience vouchers by email
iTunes: Gift card by email
Lastminute: Gift vouchers by email
Red Letter Days: eVoucher
Banks
Because Christmas Day falls on a Saturday this year, bank branches will close on Friday 24 December and not re-open until Wednesday 29 December. Remember that while ATMs will be available throughout the festive period, this is often the time of year they run out of cash.
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